NO celebrates Mardi Gras Indian culture

Super Sunday, Mardi Gras Indians draw large crowds

The world may have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day, but on Sunday, there's one tradition that can only be found in New Orleans.

Crowds lined up to catch a glimpse of the elaborate costumes of the Mardi Gras Indian tribes.

The men, women and children suited up in full garb for Super Sunday. It's a day of song, dance and pageantry dating back more than 125 years.

"It is so great. It's wonderful," said Marguerite Hollins who showed up with her sister and nephews. "The food smells good, the people are beautiful and I'm having a great time."

About 50 Mardi Gras Indian tribes come together outside of the Carnival season to give crowds a show.

"A lot of the people from the neighborhood never see us on Mardi Gras, they never know where we are, so we decided to get all the Indians together and give one big parade where the people could come out and see all the Indians," said Joseph Pierre, Big Chief of the Golden Eagles Tribe.

Since 1970, they've paraded during daylight hours to give spectators an up-close look at the beauty and craftsmanship of suits that take nearly a year to create.

"That's what the people want to see, the work and the time that's put in, so it does me a great pleasure to see that I did my own work," Pierre said.

"I do it because I love it and it saved my life," said Big Chief Darryl Montana of the Mardi Gras Indians Yellow Pocahontas tribe.

Montana said the tribe's colorful, elaborate and hand-sewn Indian costumes are labors of love, honoring a family tradition that dates back more than a century.

"(It started in) 1869. My daddy's great uncle Becate, he was born out of a relationship between a Native American and a slave, and Becate thought the highest level of respect he could pay to the natives for helping the slaves was for us to dress," said Montana.

For 52 years, cultural icon Big Chief Allison "Tootie" Montana led the tribe while advocating for tribes throughout the city. His death on June 27, 2005, made the national news.

Known as the chief of all chiefs, the 86-year-old suffered a fatal heart attack during a New Orleans City Council special session to address complaints of police misconduct during St. Joseph's Day night. Darryl Montana said his father died fighting for what he loved and believed in.

"It was the perfect situation for him because he was always at the center of attention, and he died like he lived," said Montana.

On Sunday, 8-year-old Ramond Henry represented the sixth generation of Yellow Pocahontas Mardi Gras Indians. Henry said 2012 was his first time masking, and he hopes to become big chief someday.

"I get to represent my family and represent Big Chief Tootie Montana," said Henry.

"When I see the children and see them in that zone, because you get in the zone, you know, and it tells me that we still have hope," said Montana.

Montana has taught thousands of children to bead suits over the years. He said he'd like to have a museum in his father's name someday.

The Indians start their procession in A.L. Davis Park before parading through the streets of Central City. Locals make their way year after year to catch a glimpse of the elaborate costumes.

"It's amazing, those suits are intense," said Jill Graff, who's been attending Super Sunday for 20 years. "I have a hard time with a hot glue gun and my little Mardi Gras costume, so I can't imagine dedicating a whole year to doing these suits."

People like Tess Nagle, who moved to New Orleans only five months ago, find it easy to jump right in and enjoy the tradition.

"It's amazing. It's blowing my mind, and I'm overwhelmed by the city," Nagle said as she laid her eyes on the costumes for the first time.

It's ingrained in the culture of New Orleans, and as Carlos Wilson puts it, "That's New Orleans. That's just what we do."

The hand-sewn suits worn by the Big Chiefs incorporate brightly colored feathers, beads, glittering sequins and rhinestones to create a work of art. They can weigh up to 150 pounds. The Indian tribes' names originate in Native American tradition. Their chants and songs are rooted in tradition as well.

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